Jaguar V12 specialists
Discussion
Hi everyone
Does anyone have any first hand experience of classic Jaguar specialists in the Leicester/Nottingham./Cambridgeshire area? I'd be interested to hear from you.
Also, has anyone used AJ6 engineering in Cheshire, I'm considering using them for some performance bits for my V12...
Best regards
lee
Does anyone have any first hand experience of classic Jaguar specialists in the Leicester/Nottingham./Cambridgeshire area? I'd be interested to hear from you.
Also, has anyone used AJ6 engineering in Cheshire, I'm considering using them for some performance bits for my V12...
Best regards
lee
Recommending firms to do work has always struck me as a thankless task. If it goes well you get nothing other than some mild satisfaction from it and if it goes badly you get the blame.
However I've long been an admirer of the tuning philosophy espoused in the AJ6 website. The author makes a great deal of sense and his approach to obtaining a "balanced" engine that doesn't sacrifice tractability and mid range torque for the sake of a few more horses at the top end very much matches my own approach to tuning over many years. I might disagree about exhaust gases not minding going round tight bends though although of course it depends what you mean by "tight". The system shown in the photo referencing that bit of text doesn't show what I'd call tight bends anyway. If you want to see tight bends look at a 2 litre Ford Focus Zetec manifold which is a disaster and you can add nearly 15 bhp to the stock 130 with just an ST170 tubular manifold.
However that aside he certainly talks the talk. Whether he walks the walk I have no idea.
Any fool can bolt bits into an engine though and the key is always how well the cylinder head has been modified. The difference between good and bad work can be anywhere from plus 20% extra power down to zero or even a minus number. The number of people I've met in the last 30 years who've come even close to a proper understanding of state of the art head work, especially how to cut valve seats properly, could be counted on the fingers of one hand that's already been involved in a very painful circular saw accident.
You might start by having a good read of my website, especially the general tuning article, the ones on power generation and exhaust valve sizing - well all of it really. You need to have a good idea of what's even possible to be able to evaluate the people you speak to whom you are thinking of having work done by. If you can't at least get to that stage you'll have no idea whether their claims are valid or not.
However I've long been an admirer of the tuning philosophy espoused in the AJ6 website. The author makes a great deal of sense and his approach to obtaining a "balanced" engine that doesn't sacrifice tractability and mid range torque for the sake of a few more horses at the top end very much matches my own approach to tuning over many years. I might disagree about exhaust gases not minding going round tight bends though although of course it depends what you mean by "tight". The system shown in the photo referencing that bit of text doesn't show what I'd call tight bends anyway. If you want to see tight bends look at a 2 litre Ford Focus Zetec manifold which is a disaster and you can add nearly 15 bhp to the stock 130 with just an ST170 tubular manifold.
However that aside he certainly talks the talk. Whether he walks the walk I have no idea.
Any fool can bolt bits into an engine though and the key is always how well the cylinder head has been modified. The difference between good and bad work can be anywhere from plus 20% extra power down to zero or even a minus number. The number of people I've met in the last 30 years who've come even close to a proper understanding of state of the art head work, especially how to cut valve seats properly, could be counted on the fingers of one hand that's already been involved in a very painful circular saw accident.
You might start by having a good read of my website, especially the general tuning article, the ones on power generation and exhaust valve sizing - well all of it really. You need to have a good idea of what's even possible to be able to evaluate the people you speak to whom you are thinking of having work done by. If you can't at least get to that stage you'll have no idea whether their claims are valid or not.
Many years ago I had AJ6 engineering fettle my v12 with a big throttle kit and new manifolds.
The car was a bit faster and I felt they did a good job, but it just exposed how crap the GM auto box was.
However on this basis I would say yes, use them but I'm going back 10 years for my experience.
The car was a bit faster and I felt they did a good job, but it just exposed how crap the GM auto box was.
However on this basis I would say yes, use them but I'm going back 10 years for my experience.
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